Canadiens’ Kotkaniemi will be healthy scratch against Jets

Tim and Sid discuss how the Montreal Canadiens will have a tough time making the playoffs this season.

Montreal Canadiens rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be a healthy scratch for Saturday night’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.

This scratch will be Kotkaniemi’s third in the month of March as Claude Julien elected to sit the 18-year-old in consecutive games in Los Angeles and San Jose on March 5 and 7.

While Kotkaniemi is in the midst of a successful rookie campaign in which he’s amassed 11 goals and 23 assists in 76 games, the Finn’s bench boss has noticed signs of fatigue in his game of late.

Matthew Peca will replace Kotkaniemi in the lineup and Jordan Weal will shift to play center.

Saturday’s game is pivotal for Montreal who currently sit tied with Columbus for the second wildcard spot, and one point back of Carolina for the first wild-card spot, in the Eastern Conference. Montreal has four games remaining — one fewer than the two teams with which it’s battling.

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